Get Ready for Day 1c of the ESPT Main Event at EPT Barcelona
The sun rises over Mediterranean on the second day of the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour Barcelona, and the excitement is already palpable inside Casino Barcelona. This world-class venue is bustling as players from around the globe compete for the coveted Spadie trophies, freshly polished and ready to be awarded to the first set of champions.
As the day unfolds, three events are on the cusp of their conclusions. The €1,100 NL Hold'em Freezeout, the high-stakes €10,200 Mystery Bounty, and the debut of the €12,300 PokerStars Cuatro Knockout—a single-day event that promises non-stop action—all come to a close today. Meanwhile, the €1,100 Estrellas Poker Tour (ESPT) Main Event is just getting started, with the third and fourth starting flights set to dominate the day.
Day 1c kicks off at 11 a.m. local time, followed by Day 1d at 7 p.m. Players enter with 30,000 chips, battling through 40-minute levels, with late registration open until the start of Level 11, around 8:55 p.m. The day will culminate when only 15 percent of the field remains, with all survivors securing a place in the money and advancing to Day 2 on Friday, August 30, at 11 a.m.
Nadal and Compte Shine in Early Qualifiers
The ESPT Main Event has already seen 537 entries, surpassing last year's record-breaking pace by 29. Among the standout performances, Jose Nadal emerged as the Day 1a chip leader, leveraging the bubble to his advantage by forcing opponents out of pots and clinching the final elimination of the day. Nadal's aggressive play earned him a commanding 882,000 chips, the highest stack so far.
On Day 1b, Sebastien Compte also made a strong statement by closing out his flight with 474,000 chips. His pivotal moment came when he picked up pocket kings, eliminating Gerard Rubiralta and securing his spot near the top of the leaderboard.
PokerStars ambassadors Maria Konnikova and EPT Paris Main Event champion Barny Boatman added to the drama, finding themselves at the same table for much of the day. Their rivalry culminated in a crucial hand where Konnikova attempted to knock out Boatman, only to see him double up. Boatman ended the day with a respectable 300,000 chips, while Konnikova bagged 75,000.
Current ESPT €1,100 Main Event Top Ten Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jose Nadal | Mexico | 882,000 |
| 2 | Valentino Konakchiev | Bulgaria | 512,000 |
| 3 | Brian Battistone | United States | 510,000 |
| 4 | Tero Laurila | Finland | 505,000 |
| 5 | Borja Martinez | Spain | 478,000 |
| 6 | Sebastien Compte | France | 474,000 |
| 7 | Tudor Zapsa | Moldova | 441,000 |
| 8 | Domenico Zappia | Italy | 420,000 |
| 9 | Jose Gonzalez Sanchez | Spain | 394,000 |
| 10 | Bogdan Petrascu | Romania | 370,000 |
As the tournament progresses, the PokerNews live reporting team will be on-site, delivering real-time updates until the final hand is dealt and a champion is crowned on September 1.